RACE IS SOCIALLY
CONSTRUCTED
Race: category of people labeled and treated as similar
because of some common biological traits, such as skin
color, texture of hair, and shape of eyes (p. 379)
These traits are culturally determined
Race has no “scientific” basis, e.g., DNA
Biological variability exists, but doesn’t conform to our
“race” categories; racial characteristics aren’t
transmitted as complexes
Race was invented in the 18th Century
Race and racism have always been connected
THE SOCIAL
CONSTRUCTION OF RACE
Nov. 17, 2008
© David Schweingruber 2008
SOME RACIAL TAXONOMIES
The ancients: us vs. “barbarians”
Linnaeus’ taxonomy
Nazis: important distinction was Aryan vs. Jew
South African apartheid: four categories (white, black,
colored, Indian)
Brazil: wider range of fluid skin color designations
United States
Most important distinction historically has been white
vs. non-white
U.S. officially recognizes fives races plus “other,” and
multiple race combinations
THE FIRST “SCIENTIFIC”
RACIAL TAXONOMY
Linnaeus’
races
Alleged characteristics
Ruled by:
Homo sapiens
Americanus
Red, ill-tempered, subjugated
Custom
Homo sapiens
Asiaticus
Yellow, melancholy,
greedy
Opinion
Homo sapiens Afer
Black, impassive, lazy
Caprice
Homo sapiens
Europaeus
White, serious, strong
Laws
Homo sapiens
Monstrosus
Includes coneheads, flatheads,
troglodytes, dwarves & other
unusual variations
U.S. RACIAL SYSTEM
COMPLICATIONS
The U.S. racial system has focused on the white-nonwhite dichotomy
The one drop rule: one drop of black blood (i.e., any percentage of
ancestry) makes someone black
Until 1967, many states had laws against miscegenation (marriage or sexual
relations between a man & a woman of different races)
People and groups move from one racial category to another
Because of the one-drop rule, many blacks throughout U.S. history have
looked white enough to “pass” as white; this has resulted in a large
percentage of whites with black ancestry
New immigrant groups, e.g., Irish, Slavs, have been successful in becoming
white
Census categories
Races: American Indian or Alaska Native, Asian, Black or African American,
Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander, White, Some other race
Ethnic category: Hispanic or Latino